Fast start finishes with sweep

The Ports jumped out to a five-run lead but had to hang on for a 8-7 win Thursday that completed a three-game sweep of the High Desert Mavericks in front of 1,249 fans at Mavericks Stadium.

The Record

The Ports jumped out to a five-run lead but had to hang on for a 8-7 win Thursday that completed a three-game sweep of the High Desert Mavericks in front of 1,249 fans at Mavericks Stadium.

Already leading by three runs, Stockton scored twice in the fifth to take a 7-2 lead. Josh Whitaker, who hit a grand slam on Wednesday, led off the inning with a solo home run, his ninth of the season. With two outs, Bruce Maxwell singled and scored on Antonio Lamas 17th double.

High Desert climbed back with a four-run sixth inning that featured seven hits, three of them doubles. With the tying run at second with two outs, reliever Thomas Walz replaced Shaeffer Hall. After allowing an infield hit that did not plate a run, Hall struck out Kevin Rivers looking to end the inning.

Stockton scored three runs, all with two outs, in the first inning. B.A. Vollmuth doubled to score Bobby Crocker, who singled to lead off the game. Tony Thompson followed with a single to drive in Vollmuth. After Maxwell's single to center put runners at the corners, Lamas drove in Thompson with a single to left.

The Mavericks countered with two runs in the first, but Stockton right fielder Myrio Richard got the runs right back with a two-run homer, his ninth, in the second.

The Ports (19-22 second half) begin a three-game series at Modesto at 7:05 p.m. today.